US Evacuates Non-Emergency Staff from Israel as Trump Threatens Iran, Military Build-Up Intensifies

The United States on Friday authorised the departure of non-emergency embassy staff and family members from Israel, citing safety risks, as President Donald Trump threatened military strikes on Iran and oversaw the largest US Middle East military build-up in decades. The announcement came amid Oman-mediated nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, which negotiators described as “intense” but faced challenges over unresolved issues.

The embassy advisory followed the imminent arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, off the Israeli coast. Ambassador Mike Huckabee reportedly instructed staff via email to leave immediately if possible, emphasising the urgency of departing “while commercial flights are available” to ensure safe transit to the United States.

The ongoing diplomatic efforts follow repeated threats from Trump to take military action against Iran. On February 19, he gave Tehran 15 days to reach a deal, while the US negotiating team reportedly demanded the dismantling of Iran’s main nuclear sites and the transfer of all enriched uranium to the United States. Iran has maintained that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urging Washington to drop “excessive demands” and avoid miscalculations.

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Following talks in Geneva on Thursday, Araghchi described the negotiations as “the most intense so far” and said the discussions advanced seriously on key elements, including nuclear provisions and sanctions. He indicated that technical talks at the UN nuclear agency in Vienna are scheduled to begin next week, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi confirming the continuation of detailed discussions. UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi also joined the negotiations.

Trump, in his State of the Union address earlier this week, reiterated accusations that Iran has developed missiles capable of threatening Europe and the United States and described its nuclear programme as “sinister,” claims Tehran dismissed as “big lies.” Washington currently has over a dozen warships deployed in the region, including two aircraft carriers, nine destroyers, and three additional combat ships, marking an unusual concentration of naval power.

The heightened tensions come against a backdrop of previous clashes, including Israel’s airstrikes on Iran in June last year, which led to a brief US military involvement, and Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests in January, which rights groups reported resulted in thousands of deaths. Amid continuing unrest, protests have resumed at Iranian universities, underscoring the fragile security situation as diplomacy and military posturing continue.

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